Nausea according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Nausea can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like nausea here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here nausea is often associated with vomiting, belching and insomnia in the pattern “Rebellious Qi”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause nausea.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of nausea we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat nausea.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause nausea
In Chinese Medicine nausea is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Inula Flowers (Xuan Fu Hua) is the king ingredient for Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang, a formula used for Rebellious Qi
Rebellious Qi
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Normal (light red), Red sides
Rebellious Qi is when Qi flows in the wrong direction. For instance, if one suffers from a rebellious Stomach Qi (a common case), the normal downward flow of Stomach Qi is disrupted and it goes upward instead. This may result in nausea, vomiting, belching or hiccupping.
In addition to nausea, other symptoms associated with Rebellious Qi include vomiting, belching and insomnia.
Rebellious Qi is often treated with Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Inula Flowers - Xuan Fu Hua - as a key herb). Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang belongs to the category of "formulas for a rebellious qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates the downward flow of Stomach Qi".
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the king ingredient for Er Chen Tang, a formula used for Damp-Phlegm
Damp-Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
In addition to nausea, other symptoms associated with Damp-Phlegm include fatigue, overweight and obesity.
Damp-Phlegm is often treated with Er Chen Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Er Chen Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
In addition to nausea, other symptoms associated with Stomach Qi Stagnation include vomiting, irritability and belching.
Stomach Qi Stagnation is often treated with Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that promote qi movement", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm".
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Dampness in the Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to nausea, other symptoms associated with Dampness in the Gallbladder include feeling of heaviness, sticky taste in the mouth and hypochondriac pain.
Dampness in the Gallbladder is often treated with San Ren Tang, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Apricot Seeds - Xing Ren - as a key herb). San Ren Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Damp-Heat".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Food Stagnation in the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Full (Shi)
In addition to nausea, other symptoms associated with Food Stagnation in the Stomach include poor appetite, belching and insomnia.
Food Stagnation in the Stomach is often treated with Bao He Wan, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Hawthorn Berries - Shan Zha - as a key herb). Bao He Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that reduce food accumulation and transform stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Reduces food stagnation".
Five herbal formulas that might help with nausea
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Source date: 1602
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood. Alleviates pain. Harmonizes Blood.
Why might Chai Hu Shu Gan San help with nausea?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Rebellious Qi' of which nausea is a symptom.
Er Chen Tang
Source date: 1148 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm. Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner (Stomach and Spleen).
Why might Er Chen Tang help with nausea?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm' of which nausea is a symptom.
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm. Clears Phlegm.
Why might Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang help with nausea?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Qi Stagnation' of which nausea is a symptom.
San Ren Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Damp-Heat. Disseminates the Qi. Facilitates the Qi mechanisms.
Why might San Ren Tang help with nausea?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dampness in the Gallbladder' of which nausea or vomiting is a symptom.
Bao He Wan
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Reduces food stagnation. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Bao He Wan help with nausea?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Food Stagnation in the Stomach' of which nausea is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for nausea
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat nausea
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with nausea?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat nausea as a symptom, like Si Ni San or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Crow-Dipper Rhizome (Ban Xia) help with nausea?
Because Crow-Dipper Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat nausea as a symptom, like Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang or Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang for instance.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with nausea?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat nausea as a symptom, like Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang or Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with nausea?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat nausea as a symptom, like Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang or Mai Men Dong Tang for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with nausea?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat nausea as a symptom, like Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Other symptoms often associated with nausea
Dizziness Poor appetite Vomiting Feeling of heaviness Irritability Depression Dry mouth Dry throat Night sweats Belching